Box Score
UNION, NJ – Kean University, the top seed, defeated the second seed Rowan University, 8-1 in the final of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament.
The Cougars (35-7) earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The Profs (30-11-1) must wait until Monday, May 16 to see if they receive an at-large bid to the national tournament.
Right-hander Joe Bartlinski (sr. South Amboy, NJ/South Amboy) pitched a complete game for the win (4-3). He only allowed one earned run on three hits. Bartlinski struck out 10 batters. Righty Kyle Norman (sr. Oakhurst, NJ/Ocean Twp.) took the loss (3-2). He surrendered four hits and three earned runs in 5.1 innings.
Kean was led by left fielder Ken Gregory (sr. Pittstown, NJ/Immaculata) with three hits (five at bats), four RBIs, three runs scored and two homers. Center fielder Vinny Galya (jr. Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) posted two hits (five at bats), one RBI and one run scored. First baseman Lee Cavico (jr. North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop Ahr), right fielder Nick Nolan (sr. Linden, NJ/Roselle Catholic) and third baseman Stephen Nappe (so. Edison, NJ/Edison) all produced one hit and one run scored. Catcher Eddie Jennings (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Mem.) added one hit (three at bats), one RBI and a double. Designated hitter Dylan Laguna (jr. Edison, NJ/Edison) scored once.
For Rowan, first baseman Matt Hill (jr. Hamilton Square, NJ/Robbinsville) went one for three with one run scored. Designated hitter Mark Benak (fr. South Plainfield, NJ/South Plainfield) and second baseman Brandon Winkler (jr. Glendora, NJ/Paul VI) each had one hit.
The Cougars went ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning. Jennings doubled in Gregory, who reached base on a single. In the third, Gregory hit a two run shot over the right center field fence that brought in Galya. Rowan cut the deficit to two (3-1) with one run in the fifth. With the bases loaded, Hill crossed the plate on a double play with shortstop Marc Magliaro (jr. Monroe Twp., NJ/Monroe Twp.) at bat.
In the seventh, Galya drove in Nappe with a single through the right side. Gregory hit a two run homer that scored Cavico in the eighth. Laguna was hit by a pitch and Nolan singled. The runners moved to second and third on a double steal. Nolan advanced to third on a throwing error and Laguna scored. After Jennings was hit by a pitch, the runners attempted a double steal and Nolan was safe at the plate.
Results for the NJAC Baseball Championship Tournament follow.
Tue., May 3 (at higher seeds)
Game 1 - #1 Kean University 3, #6 Montclair State University 1
Game 2 - #2 Rowan University 15, #5 The College of New Jersey 3
Game 3 - #3 Rutgers-Newark 12, #4 Ramapo College 7
Thu., May 5 (at higher seeds)
Game 4 – #6 Montclair State University 7, #5 The College of New Jersey 6 (TCNJ is eliminated.)
Game 5 – #1 Kean University 8, #4 Ramapo College 4 (Ramapo is eliminated.)
Game 6 – #2 Rowan University 7, #3 Rutgers-Newark 2
Sat., May 7 (at Kean University, Union, NJ)
Game 7 –#1 Kean University 5, #2 Rowan University 4
Game 8 – #6 Montclair State University 2, #3 Rutgers-Newark 1 (15 inn.) (Rutgers-Newark is eliminated.)
Game 9 – #2 Rowan University 6, #6 Montclair State University 1 (Montclair State is eliminated.)
Sun., May 8 (at Kean University, Union, NJ)
Game 10 – #1 Kean University 8, #2 Rowan University 1
